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a r t i s t :: Friends
t i t l e :: Friend Crush (Single)
d a t e :: 2011-03-21
l a b e l :: Lucky Number
g e n r e :: Indie
s o u r c e :: WEB
b i t r a t e :: 320 kbps avg
e n c o d e r :: LAME
t r a c k s :: 2
p l a y t i m e :: 5:43
s i z e :: 14.19MB
tracklist
1 Friend Crush 3:06
2 Feelin' Dank 2:37
releasenotes
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Released: 21.03.11
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Friends: Friend Crush
Much bravado, and more bullshit, has been spoken in the name of the
like-minded æfree spiritÆ amongst the underbelly of indie-cool hopefuls in
NYCÆs hippest borough, Brooklyn. Putting all that aside, the nascent quintet,
Friends, is quite probably the finest and purest embodiment of said aesthetic.
Formed on Sept. 12th 2010, Friends, played their first show for lead singer,
Samantha UrbaniÆs birthday party in her backyard just 6 days later, before
being subsequently thrust into a CMJ showcase. In the few months that have
followed, Friends have played all the hotspots amongst NYCÆs ever-expanding
D.I.Y circuit, like Silent Barn, Shea Stadium and Death By Audio, and have
just hit the road for a mammoth 29 date US tour with label-mate Darwin Deez.
Things have been moving this fast for Urbani since the spring of 2010 when,
based in Brooklyn, Urbani recorded a batch of songs ôbubbling out of her
brainö onto æGarageBand.Æ Summer saw Samantha temporarily relocate to Berlin
to study, frequenting artist communes akin to the æMarket HotelÆ, where she
currently resides, and further extending her unorthodox life approach, having
been home schooled, by a free spirited, artistic small family unit in the
suburbs of Connecticut. Upon returning to NYC, Urbani knew she needed a band
to realize her ideas into something bigger.
Hence, Friends was formed naturally by the, well, friends surrounding her at
the time. Self-taught, play anything musician Lesley Hann, 22, a striking
performer of bass and keys in the band, whom Urbani had known from childhood,
and stand-up drummer, Oliver Duncan, 23, were playing in a rock band together,
and crashing on UrbaniÆs couch to avoid their bed bug problem. Close friends
Matthew Molnar, 28, and Nikki Joe Shapiro, 33, worked, together with the
singer, at the now locally-notorious vegan restaurant in the east village,
Angelica Kitchen, where Darwin Deez had also previously eked out a living, and
so, the quintet was complete.
Instantly, from the immediate tape hum of æFriend CrushÆ, you know you are
dealing with a living, breathing collective. The noise is soon followed by a
swaggeringly simple beat, and then an intimate voice offers staccato couplets
oozing a sensuality that is both primal and sensitive ; itÆs a voice of
urgency, and yet naively plaintive. ItÆs all topped off by a beautiful &
affecting chiming riff from guitar pop heaven, reminiscent of Joe MeekÆs
concoctions.
B-side, æFeelin DankÆ, furthers the bandÆs horizons. ItÆs a spacious
arrangement of organic freestyle, with claps, bongos, and what could be an
African call-and-response vocal style, built with nursery rhymes that could
fit into a hip re-imagination of Lincoln Chase/Shirley EllisÆs æThe Clapping
Song.Æ
Imbibed with the naked party-starting enthusiasm of E.S.G. and The Tom Tom
Club, cult NYC happenings like themselves, Friends perform a self-described
concoction of æweird popÆ and ætropicoolÆ, African-inspired rhythms splashed
with a tropical dash.
So far, in the uber-fashion conscious æbig appleÆ, Friends have established
themselves quickly. They offer something transcendental, and yet exuberantly
now. Perfect for this era when life seems tough enough to require regular
reality checks, alongside our dreams of escapism and overachievement. ôI am
hoping we will dominate the search engine,ö says Urbani, ôThereÆs definitely
space in pop music right now for something more genuine.ö Well, here it isà
Band-Url: http://www.luckynumbermusic.com/artists/friends/
Shop-Url: http://tinyurl.com/3l6mzsk
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Friends-Friend_Crush-(Single)-WEB-2011-k4